Trademark Renewal, Assignment & Licensing Lawyer in Lahore — Protect Your Registration

What Are Trademark Renewal, Assignment & Licensing Under Pakistani Law?

Under the Trade Marks Ordinance 2001, a registered trademark remains valid for ten years and must be renewed before or shortly after expiry to keep its protection in force, renewable indefinitely for further ten-year terms. Assignment is the formal transfer of trademark ownership from one party to another — through a sale of the brand, a business acquisition, or restructuring — and should be recorded with IPO-Pakistan to update the official register. Licensing allows the trademark owner to permit another party, such as a franchisee or distributor, to use the mark under agreed terms while ownership itself remains unchanged.

When You Need a Renewal, Assignment & Licensing Lawyer

• Your trademark's ten-year registration term is approaching expiry.
• You are buying or selling a business that includes trademark ownership.
• You want to license your brand to a franchisee, distributor, or licensee.
• You need an assignment formally recorded with IPO-Pakistan after a business transfer.
• You want a licensing agreement that protects your brand's quality and reputation.
• You discovered your trademark registration has already lapsed and need advice on restoration.

The Renewal, Assignment & Licensing Procedure — Step by Step

1. For renewals, we track your registration's expiry date and file the renewal application in good time.
2. For assignments, we prepare the assignment deed and file it with IPO-Pakistan to record the change of ownership.
3. For licensing, we draft a licence or franchise agreement defining permitted use, quality control, territory and royalty terms.
4. We review the trademark's current status and any outstanding issues before finalising the transaction.
5. We confirm the register has been correctly updated following an assignment or licence recordal.
6. We advise on restoration options where a registration has already lapsed.

Documents Required

• Trademark registration certificate
• Sale agreement or business transfer documents, for assignments
• Proposed licence or franchise terms, for licensing arrangements
• CNIC/company registration of both parties involved
• Power of attorney, for overseas trademark owners

Timeline & Cost Framework

Renewal filings typically take a few weeks to process once submitted. Assignment recordal generally takes a few weeks to a couple of months depending on IPO-Pakistan's processing times. Licensing and franchise agreements can be drafted within a week or two, depending on complexity of terms negotiated. Fee structure is confirmed after the first consultation, based on the nature of the transaction.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Missing the renewal deadline and risking loss of trademark protection.
• Transferring a business without formally assigning and recording the trademark ownership.
• Licensing a brand without clear quality-control and termination provisions.
• Assuming an informal handshake agreement is sufficient for a franchise or licensing arrangement.
• Failing to check the trademark's actual registration status before relying on it in a transaction.

For Overseas Pakistanis

Overseas Pakistani brand owners often need renewal deadlines tracked and assignment or licensing paperwork handled without being present in Pakistan. We manage these matters on your behalf under power of attorney, keeping your trademark portfolio properly maintained. trademark renewal ka wakeel Lahore mein